Aerating and filtering device for aquariums



Au8- 26, 1941- J. F. HAi-QDEMAN 2,253,516

l AERA-TING AND FILTERING DEVICE FOR AQUARIUMS- Filed Aug. 11, 1938 IIE" P5- /3y f9 Patented Aug. 26, 1941 AERATING AND FILTERING DEVICE FOR' AQUARIUMS James F. Haldeman, Martinsville, Ind.

Application August 11, 1938, Serial No. 224,281

5' Claims.

This invention relates to an aquarium arrangementv and means associated therewith for aerating and filtering the. aquarium water which is cycled forV that purpose.

The chief object' of this invention is to.` produce an arrangement of the character indicated and, which, may have one or more of the followingfeatures included therein:

One isvr the discharge to the aquarium tank of aerated iiltered water in such a manner that splashing is prevented. n A secondvfeature is the mixing ofv air and water in an arrangement of this general character in such a manner that the mixing is devoid oiV splashing- A third feature in` an aquarium type. unit, is mounting the power, pump. and other associated means so that the power and pump vibrations are absorlried, to a considerable degree if not. entirely eliminated, so .that the. aforesaid vibrations are .not transmitted to the aquariumrtank andrits, Y

lfiltering medium can be cleaned by compression e andwashing without removal of the medium.

Aiifth feature of theinventon. consists in providing such a filter structure asV last mentioned, with washing uidoperable means so that the washing fluid supplies. the power for the. medium compression.

A sixthifeature of the invention consists in embodying in a lter structure, as set forth in the fourthfeature heren,.a control arrangement whereby the' filtering medium is alternately compressed andY washed and such cycling is automatic. Y Aseventh feature of the invention consists in providing a control arrangement whereby the embodiment of' the invention disclosed herein' readily may be shifted. from normal aquarium content aerating and filteringy cycling to ltering medium compression and washing cycling.

Anotherv feature of the invention consists in the positive aeration of iiltered aquarium water,v the aeration in amount being suflicient-to at least fully saturate the water and generallyprovide an excess of oxygen thereto. so that the water previousto its return to the aquarium supply .has absorbed the full amount of voxygen possible.

AOther objects and features of the invention will be set forth more fully hereinafter, such as the non-splashing ventingy of excess air carried by the water after being positively aerated.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawing and the following description and claims.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a front view of an aquarium structure embodying one form of the invention, the aquarium structure being shown more or less skeletonized and devoid of ornamental characteristics.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, central, sectional view of the lter structure with the washing and compressing apparatus incorporated therein.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, central, sectional view of a positive aeration means.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse, sectional view of the aquarium tank and the aerated water discharge thereto, and the means for preventing splashing and the relief of excess air without splashing.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of a lock element.

In the drawing IIJ indicates a pair of spaced standards and the like and II the forward cross member intermediate the top and bottom of said standards. The numeral I2 indicates a parallel structure near the base of the standards, and for clearance purposes, it is spaced slightly above the lower ends Ida of the standards. The numeral I3 indicates a tank structure generally and I3a the front face thereof which preferably is of glass for exposing fish in the tank. The tank is of open top character and is suitably supported by the cross members I I and the uprights or standards I0.

Nested within the frame work and suitably supporte-d thereby, is an air supply tube I4 having the intake end Ida above the level I5 of the water in the aquarium tank I3. The lower end is exposed as at Ib and a iiexible connection IS connects said lower end to the pipe I1.

The motor I8 is suitably coupled as at I9 to a pump 20, the latter being supplied at the intake portion 2| by a line 22. from the pump 20 is into a xture 23 shown most clearly in Fig. 3. This xture includesa chamber 24 closed by a plug 25 sealed as at 26. The plug is apertured asl at 21 and this bore is enlarged as at 28 to receive a tube 29 which connects to a line 30, as shown in Fig. l.

'I'he central portion of the member 23 includes a bored extension 3l that extends into the chamber 24 and terminates in an elongated tube 32, the opening therethrough communicating with the bore portion 33 of the portion 3| and in free communication with the pumpfdischarge. The air supply conduit II communicates with the `The discharge chamber 24 as at 34. Water under pressure discharged by the pump passes through the bore 33 and the tube 32 and thence into the tube 29 and into the conduit 30. In so doing it creates a suction in the tube 29 and more especially in the chamber 24 so that air is drawn into said chamber and is intimately mixed in tube 29 with the pressure discharged water in the tube 29 and the volume of air is at least sufficient to fully saturate with oxygen the water being cycled from and to the tank I3. The tank I3 at or near its bottom is provided with a discharge 35 which is flexibly connected as at 35a to a conduit 36 in turn connected to the pump supply conduit 22, as hereinafter set forth.

Suitably supported by the frame work or the like, is a discharge conduit 31 and the same is flexibly connected as at 38 to the conduit 33. Herein conduit 31 is shown provided at its upper end with a substantially horizontal discharge portion 39, seen most clearly inFigs. 1 and 4. This discharge conduit is preferably, but not necessarily, positioned adjacent the back wall of the tank and may be suitably supported thereby or by the end walls of the tank, as desired.

This tube includes a plurality of downwardly directed apertures 49 and these open into the tank below the normal water level therein, indicated by the numeral I5. In other Words, normally conduit 39 is partially submerged.

The back wall I3bof the tank includes a forward extension at its upper edge, indicated by the numeral 4I, and the same extends over the conduit 39 and beyond the same and forwardly thereof is continued downwardly, forming a baffle or apron 42. This partially masks the discharge conduit 39. It preferably terminates, at its lower end 42a, above the water level I5 of the tank. Along the upper surface of the conduit 39 there is provided a smaller series of ports 43; lthe purpose thereof is as follows:

In this cycling of the water, the injector structure shown in Fig. 3 is operative to fully charge the water with oxygen and generally there is an excess of oxygen supplied to the Water over and above that which can be normally absorbed thereby. This excess oxygen when the aerated water reaches the conduit 39, collects near the upper part of the conduit and the oxygenated Water discharges without splashing into the tank I3 below `the level I5 thereof. The excess oxygen and some of the water that may be mechanically discharged therewith, are discharged through the openings 43 and thus air pocketing or air locking is prevented. Such surplus air as may discharge i through the ports 49 will rise to the surface of the water in the tank and thus escape without splashing. The air and the water which escape through the ports 43 discharge upwardly and outwardly into the auxiliary overhead chamber formed by the back wall of the tank, the forward extension 4I at the upper edge thereof and the depending baffle portion 42.

The water which may be so discharged is prevented from escape from the tank for it discharges upon the back wall, the overhead portion and the forward portion or the inner walls of this auxiliary chamber, and thence discharges to the tank proper without splashing. The air discharged into this auxiliary chamber escapes by passing under the lower edge 42a. of the forward baffle 42. Thus, the water is returned to the tank, fully aerated and without any splashing, permitting an aquarium of this character to be utilized in situations wherein surface aeration such as heretofore employed in this industry, would be objectionable to employ because of splashing.

In the present embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a fil-ter structure, designated generally in Fig. 1 by the letter F. It also is suitably supported as hereinafter pointed out. The tank discharge A or more especially the conduit 36, communicates with the conduit 44 which enters the filter as at 45. The water leaves the nlter as at 45 and discharges to conduit 46a in turn communicating with conduit 22. This completes the water cycle when the filter structure is included in the aerating arrangement cycle.

To prevent vibration incident to the operation of the device being transmitted to the tank and its contents, etc., there is provided a plurality of supports 41 which are herein illustrated as of substantially channel shape land the same extend across the device and the lower portions are suitably secured as at 48 to the two lower cross members I2 ofthe frame structure. The upper portions of said channel members 41 suitably support the upper ends of the plurality of tension springs 49, the lower ends of which are secured to a platform 59. The motor I8 is suitably secured as at 5I to said platform. The pump 20 is suitably secured as at 52 to said platform and the filter structure F is suitably secured to an auxiliary frame work in the form of smaller channels 53, as at 54, and the auxiliary frame work in turn is secured as at 55 to the platform 50.

Inasmuch as lines I4b and I1, 39 and 31, and discharge 35 and conduit 38 are fiexibly connected together by members I5, 38 and 35a, respectively, vibration of the several elements, towit, the motor, the pump and the filter, the latter vibration, if any, being of secondary character, is prevented from being transmitted to the frame and/or tank. Within the filter F there is provided suitable mediurn in the form of sponge material 82, and the like.

The present embodiment of the invention includes a pressure supply line 5B and the waste line 51. These are flexibly connected or otherwise connected as desired at 58 and 59, respectively, to the conduits 60 and 6I. Conduit 60 discharges to the filter structure F at 62. The waste line 6I connects to the filter structure as at B3. With this addition it is quite apparent that when water under pressure is supplied from line 56 to the filter F, the water may wash the filter medium 82 and the wash water may waste from the filter to be discharged through line 51.

In order not to have operative interference, suitable valve means is provided to control the aerating filtering cycling supply and the washing and wasting supply. Individual valves may be provided but preferably valve means having a common operative control are provided and by way of example only, said valve means herein is illustrated as of a multiple valve structure. It includes a valve housing 64 having a chamber 65 therein adapted to receive a valve member 66. Said chamber is closed as at 61 and through said member 61 extends the valve stem 58 which mounts a handle 69. The stem 68 is rigid with the multiple valve member 66 which includes the several ports or passages of diametrical character, 1I, 12, 13 and 14.

When the valve handle 69 is in the position as illustrated in Fig. 1, the conduit 36 does not communicate with the conduit 44 and the conduit 22 does not communicate with the conduit 46a and,l therefore, the cycling of the. aerated filtered water does not occur. When thevalve handle is thus positioned, water pressure is supplied by line 56y to the intake 62' of the lter structure F by line 82aY and this water is then discharged from the filtery discharge 63 by way of line 63a to the line 6|.

The motor |8is supplied with power by mean of current supply lines 15 controlled by the switch T6. Preferably in the present embodiment of the invention, the switch 16 is opened when the unitary valve. structure is conditioned as shown in Fig. 1. When the handle is moved 90" towards the observer the conduit 36 communicates with conduit 44 and conduit 22 communicates with conduit 46a. and conduit 63a does not communicate with conduit 6| and conduit 66 does not communicate with conduit 62a.

When the valve handle is in this position, the

switch 16 can be closed so that the aeration and i filtering cycle will be in effect. In other words, the mechanism herein disclosed is adapted to alternately clean the lter and effect the cycling of the aerated ltered water and as previously set forth, if that is required, to eect the same, the handle 69 is moved from the position shown in Fig. 1 to a position at right angles thereto and thereafter return it to' the position shown in Fig. 1.

Reference will be had now more particularly to Fig. 2. The lter structure F includes a chamber 11 and communicating therewith is the waste outlet 63 and the tank waste intake 45. These are provided in the upper portion and the waste outlet is of greater area than the inlet. lower portion of the chamber 11 includes the discharge 46 which leads to the' piunp 20. The chamber also includes a port 18.

`Suitably suspended and in spaced relation to the cover 11a forming the chamber 11 of the filter structure F is a perforated screen or plate 80. This is of sheet metal and has considerable strength, the necessity for which will appear hereinafter. Normally positioned near the bottom of the chamber 11 is a correspondingplate 8| similarly formed, the plates being apertured as at 80a and 8|a, respectively. The plate 8| is capable of movement toward and away from plate 80 for alternately compressing and releasing the ltering medium 82 ,in the chamber 11 fand included between the plates.

Depending from the 'chamber 11 is a chamber structure 83 including the intake or water pressure line supply connection 62. Mounted within the chamber 83 is a cylinder 85 having a relaas indicated at 88a. Water under pressure in chamber 84 thus can freely enter through the port 81a and elevate the member 8S, and the water can then pass upwardly into the cylinder 85 through the serrated portion 88a of the plate 88 and through the aperture 88, thus subjecting the interior of the cylinder 85 to pressure. A stop member 90 may be provided to limit the upward movement of the flap valve 88.

Mounted within the cylinder 85 is a piston structure 9| carried by a stem 92 which extends The I through the opening 93a in the. cylinder head 93.

The piston rod 9.2r issuitably secured to the. mov-y able plate 8I. as at 94 and a spacing collar 95 prevents plate 8| from assuming a position lower than that. illustrated ini Fig. 2. Interposed between the cylinder head 93 and the piston 9i| is a coil spring 96. This normally tends to hold the plate 8| in its lowermost position. When the. cylinder is subjected to pressure, the piston is caused to move upwardly and at the same time carries with it the plate 8| thereby compressing ltering medium 82 (sponge material). In ythis movement, it will be apparent the spring 96, as it is compressed, has stored in it power for returning plate 8=| and the piston to the position shown in Fig. 1 and that this occurs upon the release of pressure from chamber 84. When this pressure in chamber 84 is released, the power medium included within the cylinder between the piston and the valve 88 is gradually discharged through the port 89 only and not through the serrated portions 88m because the member 88 during this operation is seated on the member 81 and lthus seals the cylinder except as described. This arrangement, therefore, constitutes a retarding or dash potl construction and by employing a spring of a definite forcel and providing an aperture 89` of a denite size, the exact or desired return or release interval can be obtained.

Mounted in the chamber 84 is a valve 96 which is adapted yto seal the port 18 in order to hold the pressure supplied by the intake 62 within the chamber 84 to effect piston movement. It will be obvious, of course, that in place of the piston construction a diaphragm may be employed in lieu thereof and like results obtained.

Within chamber 84 is mounted a plate 91 provided with an ear 98 which pivotally supports at 99 an actuating arm |00 that carries at one end the valve 96. Extending through the bottom of the chamber 11 and the plate 91 is a rod |0|. This rod has a head portion |02 in chamber 84 that bears upon the lever |00. In the chamber` 11 the rod |0| has` the head portion |03 adapted to be engaged when the plate has reached its lowermost position. Herein the same is engaged by the head |04 on a stem or rod |05 suitably secured as at |96 to the plate 8| and extending through the plate 8'? and the bottom of the chamber 11` as at |01. This rod |05 at its lower end adjustably mounts as at |08 an angular arm |09 which constitutes a tripping member. Slidably mounted on the rod is a bearing member l i0 which is provided with a shoulder against which bears one end of the concentric spring H2, the opposite end bearing on the trip member anchorage |08.

The lever |00 is apertured as at ||3 and the rod |05 extends freely therethrough. Adjacent the aperture H3 the bearing member ||0 bears on said member |00 after the rod |05 has been sufficiently e elevated. clearance between the member |00 and the memberV I0` when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2. As the rod |05 is elevated with the plate 8! due to water pressure in chamber 84, the spring ||2 is compressed and more and more force is exerted thereby through the member I0 on to thearm` |06. Vinasmuch as the member |0| has limited sliding movement, it no longer is effective to hold the actuating arm |00 in valve closing position so that if other means were not provided, the valve actuating arm would be thus actuated to open the valve 96 and permit the relief of pressure in chamber 84 to exhaust into Normally there is slightl the chamber 11 and waste therefrom as at 63,v

this being the washing operation. The additional means, however, for holding this lever in valve closing position until the predetermined plate movement has occurred is a tiltable latch designated by the numeral |20. It is pivotally supported at |2| on an ear |22 carried by the plate 91-see Figs. 2 and 5.

A spring |23 has one end concentric with an extension |24 of the member |20. The opposite end of the spring may be located by the portion |25 on the plate 91. Thus-the spring normally constrains the member |20 so that the portion |26 of member |20 normally is interposed between the plate 91 and the free end of the valve actuating lever lii. Thus as long as this latch remains in the position shown in Fig. 2 and pressure is supplied to intake 62, valve 96 will be held closed despite the eiort of the slidable member to open the same and the plate 8| will continue to be elevated by means of the pressure power arrangement previously described. Inasmuch as the tripping member |69 is simultaneously elevated with the piston 9| and the plate 8|, until the upper end |09a engages the surface |21 of the tail portion |28 of the member |20, the valve 96 will remain closed.

When this engagement does occur, any additional movement in the same direction causes the member |20 to be tilted on its pivot |2| in opposition to the spring |23 and thereupon the portion |26 is caused to move from between the supporting plate 91 and the valve operating member |00. Upon that release operation occurring, the member H0, all the while bearing on the lever arm |00, immediately becomes effective, through the power stored in the spring H2, to tilt this valve actuating arm |00 to open the valve 96 and permit the pressure in the chamber 84 to vent through the port 18 into the chamber 11 for washing purposes.

It will be apparent that following the compression of the sponge or ltering medium 82, within the chamber 11 and included between the -apertured plates Sil-8|, there will be included in chamber 11 a mass of dirty water and this water initially is caused to be discharged through the outlet 63 to the waste 51 and then the clean water replaces the same. Following the release of this valve holding member |20 and the initial venting of the chamber 80, the piston and the plate 8| are caused to return toward the position shown in Fig. 2 by means of the power spring 96. The rate of return is regulated by the dash pot arrangement, as set forth.

As long as the rod is lowering in the return movement of the plate, the spring ||2 will be extending and thus the bearing on the Valve actuated arm |00 will be retained in order to hold the valve 96 open until just immediately prior to the parts attaining the lowermost position. At that time the member ||0 loses contact with the valve operating arm |00.

To insure positive closing of the valve 96 at this period or slightly thereafter, the portion |04 of the rod |05 engages the head |03 of the rod |0| and rod I 6| is caused to move downwardly and in so doing tilts the lever arm |00 in the opposite direction to insure closing or seating of the valve 96 and in this closing movement, the free end of the valve operating arm |00 engages the portion |26 of the catch member |20 and by means of spring |23 the catch member is repositioned between the plate 91 and the free end of the operating arm |00 so that it Will hold the valve operating arm in valve'closing position until the predetermined compressing action has been attained.

It will be quite obvious that as long as the valve 69 is maintained in the position as shown in Fig. 1, pressure will be alternately supplied to the cylinder and released therefrom for sponge compression purposes. Then the pressure Water will be alternately supplied to and cut oi from the chamber 11 for washing purposes. Following a sufcient interval of lter cleaning, the same in the present disclosure, including both compressing and washing, the valve handle 69 is moved into a position at right angles to that shown herein and as previously described, the compressing and Washing operations are discontinued, the motor is energized and the cycling of the tank contents is initiated and this is continued until it is determined the tank water is not in proper condition whereupon the valve handle 69 is again actuated and the cleaning of the iilter is again effected.

To guard against the attendant forgetting to stop the filter cleaning operation and reestablish the aerating and ltering cycle, and to automatically provide make up for loss by evaporation, and to insure some relatively free water supply to the tank during filter cleaning, the following is provided.

Leading from pressure supply line 62a (normally without pressure during aerating and ltering) is a small conduit |30 connected to tank supply line 31 and including a flexible connection I3|. This conduit may include `a check valve if desired although the same is not illustrated herein for clearness.

An overflow line |32 from the tank I3 includes a flexible connection |33 and communicates with waste line 6| although for positive control it may communicate with line 63a ahead of the main valve and thus be controlled thereby.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detail in the drawing and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character.

The several modifications described herein as well as others which will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, all are considered to be within the broad scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. In an aquarium system and the like, including a water pressure system with a pressure supply and a waste therefor, the combination of a unitary arrangement for connection therebetween including an aquarium connected to the supply and waste, a pump, a filter structure, means connecting the aquarium, lter and pump in a closed cycle, and means operatively associated with `the lter structure and interposed in the pressure system ahead of the waste for filter washing.

2. In combination, a vessel such as an aquarium and the like, including a body of water, a lter structure which communicates with the vessel and through which filter structure the water from the vessel passes by gravity or suction, pump means connected at its intake end to the lter and discharging to the vessel the water withdrawn through the iilter, relatively enclosed positive aeration means including a chamber open to the atmosphere 'and operable by the water discharged into said chamber for subsequent discharge to the vessel for positively aerating the previously filtered water, an auxiliary chamber in the vessel near the Water level thereof, and Adischarge means supplied with aerated and iiltered water by said pump means and positioned beneath the auxiliary chamber and discharging below the water level and said auxiliary chamber.

3. In an aquarium tank and the like, the combination with a pump and a positive aerator connected together and to the tank, the pump intake therefrom being below the aerator discharge thereto, of an auxiliary chamber in said tank protectively venting to the atmosphere, and discharging means in said chamber and venting upwardly into the auxiliary chamber substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In combination, an aquarium tank, a pump, a filter, all arranged inv closed cycle relationship, valve means upon each side of the filter and in said cycle relationship, a source of water pressure, a waste, connections between the source and ilter and filter and Waste, valve means in said connections, a connection from the source of pressure to the tank for tank supply independent of pump supply, and .an overflow from the tank to said Waste.

5. A combination as defined by claim 4, characterized by said valve means being simultaneously and oppositely operable.

JAMES F. HALDEMAN. 

